02297nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653000900080653002300089653002500112653001100137653001100148653001400159653001000173653001200183653000900195653001600204653001700220653002100237653002600258653003100284100001000315700001300325700001700338700001100355700001700366245005800383856005900441300001000500490000700510050001200517520135600529022001401885       1996                            d  c1996 Sep10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aAttitude to Health10aDeveloping countries10aFemale10aHumans10aIncidence10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aRisk Factors10aSex Distribution10aSocioeconomic Factors10aSurveys and Questionnaires1 aRao S1 aGarole V1 aWalawalkar S1 aKhot S1 aKarandikar N00aGender differentials in the social impact of leprosy.  uhttp://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/1996/v67n3/pdf/v67n3a04.pdf  a190-90 v67  aRAO19963 a<p>Prevalence rates of leprosy have reduced considerably in many states where multidrug therapy is in operation. However, reduction in prevalence alone is not sufficient as the social consequences of the diseases on the life of the patient are often severe and persist even after its cure. The present paper, therefore, investigates social impact with special reference to gender differentials. Data obtained from structured questionnaires (n = 606) is analysed for this purpose. It was observed that the initial delay in identifying the skin changes as the symptoms of the disease were higher for females (29 months) than males (24 months). Even after identifying the symptoms, women were observed to depend exclusively on nonmedical treatment for a longer period (10 months) than males (6 months). Upon starting the medical treatment females were observed to be more compliant than males, but the benefits of regularity appeared to be outweighed by the initial delay in starting medical treatment. The social impact on daily life was more severe for females than males as revealed by the isolation from daily activities, such as, restrictions on participation in familial functions, restrictions on touching children. The paper highlights implications of gender bias on detection and treatment, and suggests modifications for control programmes.</p>  a0305-7518